Ex-Nebraska football star called 'NFL caliber' after dominant performance

Former Nebraska football star quarterback Adrian Martinez is having himself quite the rookie season for the Birmingham Stallions.

Adrian Martinez looks to make a play
Adrian Martinez looks to make a play | Matthew A. Smith/UFL/GettyImages

It's safe to say that Adrian Martinez's domination in the UFL is no longer a fluke. The former Nebraska football star is showing what he can do when he's allowed to just cut loose. He's also demonstrating what happens when he can also stay healthy. 

He's impressiing people enough at this point that more than a few analysts who have watched Martinez play believe he's someone who could make it at a higher level. Some believe the ex-Husker and Kansas State Wildcat has what it takes to make plays in the NFL.

UFL analyst James Larsen came away quite impressed with what he saw from Adrian Martinez on Saturday afternoon. It would be hard not to be. The former Nebraska football star thew for 366 yards and 4 touchdowns (a league record). He also ran 5 times for 25 yards, though clearly the Stallions didn't need his ability to do damage on the ground this week.

Martinez has definitely shown that he can cause havoc through the air and running the ball. His last time out, against Houston, he led Birmingham to a 32-9 victory thanks in large part to rushing for 138 yards while also passing for 155 yards and a touchdown.

Martinez still leads the UFL in rushing and it looks like he wants to take the league crown in passing yards as well. If he's given the chance. The ex-Nebraska football star was splitting time at quartebrack with former USC signal-caller Matt Cassel. 

However, it appears that Martinez's performances wre too good to having him sitting and watching the action anymore. He now appears to have seized the starting job for the still undefeated Stallions as they gear up for a playoff run.

Is former Nebraska footbal star 'NFL caliber' for real?

The question then does become, was his performance enough to get another shot at the NFL? He went to fall camp with the Detroit Lions last year but didn't make final cuts.there is a chance he could get another shot. 

If the next team decides he can do damage through the air and with his legs, could he at least stick on a practice squad? Something to watch for a guy who was at one point, considered a legitimate pre-season Heisman candidate for former Nebraska football head coach Scott Frost.

Schedule

Schedule